San Jose May Ban Styrofoam

The San Jose, Calif., City Council is moving toward a ban of Styrofoam in food service outlets.

The council agreed to move forward with the development of a polystyrene phase-out ordinance, said Cheryl Wessling, communications manager for the city, in an e-mail. Plans call for a ban to be phased in over two years beginning Jan. 1, 2014, for large and chain restaurants, and Jan. 1, 2015, for smaller food service outlets.

The city is encouraging smaller restaurants to arrange for joint packaging purchases to control costs. The ordinance would allow for exemptions for financial and hardship cases.

Potential alternatives cost between 1 and 3 cents per package, according to Kerry Romanow, city environmental services director.

Based on incorrect information supplied by the city, an earlier version of this story said council had approved a ban.